Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-08-12
HOLIDAYS IN JAPAN.
FIVE NATIONAL FESTIVAL DAYS, IN
GLIDING NEW YEARS.

The "Festiva1 of the Do1Is"-Family
the Boys-Feasts of the Lanterns" and
"Chrysanthemums."
The Japanese have many festive days,
and unlike most heather nations, are eX-
ceedingly devoted to the children, sparing
neither time, labor nor expense for their
amusement. Even their system of edu-
cation is made source of pleasure, and
corporal punishment is thing unknown
in the family. Masquerades, domestic
comedies, picnics and many feast days are
enacted and observed for the benefit Of the
little folks; but have observed that it is
a shrewd method of enjoyment for the
elders also.
There are five national festival days, in
Guiding New Years, which, under the old
laws, was not begun with ours, but on the
9th day of February.
The second is called the "Festival of the
Dolls" and is q great day for the little
girls, during which the various specimens
of dollhood are conducted into the state
chamber of the house. which is beautifully
decorated with blooming peach boughs and
evergreens. These favorite automatons
are made to personify grand personages,
from the ancient mikado and his court to
the various families of the princes.
For days before this greatest of great
days to the daughters of the house, the
shops are gay with splendidly dressed I'M
ages; but after the festival they disappear
and are seen no more till another year re-
news the demand for them. Every re
spectacle family has number of dolls of
various sizes, ranging from four inches to
a foot and a half in height. When a
daughter is born to the household, a pair
of dolls is purchased, with which she plays
until she becomes a grown up girl. When
she maIries these are taken to her hus-
bands home, and in turn given to heE
children. In this way a great number is
accumulated, if many daughters are born
into the family.
A FAMILY BANQUET.
Then comes family banquet, and after
ward the girls make offerings of saki (rice
beer and rice cakes to the effigies of the
emperor and empress, and spend the day
mimicking the entire round of Japanese
life, as child, maiden, wife, mother and
grandmother Other toys, representing
the table service, utensils of the kitchen,
toilet sets and travelling apparatus, many
of these very elaborate and costly, are i'll
use on this day This festival is cele-
brated on the Sd of May.
On the, 9th of July occurs a CORE
spending feast for the boys. Previous to
this the shops are again gay with toys
suited for the ''Feast of the Banners
These consist of all the regalia and equip
ments of a daimio's prince's) procession;
the contents of an arsenal-aags, stream
ers, banners, effigies of heroes, warriors,
soldiers on foot, horsemen, genii of
strength, valor, etc. Such toys are bought
for every son born into the family, hence
the display is often very imposing and
brilliant. The streets are gayly decorated
and planted with bamboo staffs, which are
ornamented and trimmed with every de-
vice Of oddity Jay banners are placed
at all conspicuous points, blazoned with
national designs. heroic sentences and
family titles Troops of Doys III part
colored clothes, wearing miniature swords
and sabers and each carrying flag,
throng the streets, while parents, priests
and police look on in admiration.
A LARGE PAPER FISH.